History

History is full of triumphant events, heartwarming happenings, and general good times. But throughout the long span of time, there have also been truly horrific moments full of pain and suffering. Many of the most <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/haunting-photos-that-show-the-dark-side-of-history/brenden-donnelly" target="_blank">horrific moments in history</a> have survivors who, at one time or another, told their stories. These individuals provide vivid accounts of what they saw and how they felt that&nbsp;humanize the hard statistics and objective facts often presented in history textbooks.

Some of the worst moments in history are testaments to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/intense-survival-stories/lea-rose-emery" target="_blank">survival</a>;&nbsp;others are reminders of humanity&#39;s capability to commit devastation and cruelty. All, however, should remain part of our collective memory in hopes that no one will have to live through them again.

12 Moments In History That Would Have Been Horrific To Live Through

Event

The Most Horrific Moments In History To Have Lived Through

Melissa Sartore

Politics

We tend to think of presidents as these larger-than-life, often wealthy figures - and true as that may be since it is the most powerful job in the world - the men who have held the position have to start somewhere. The majority of the U.S. presidents grew up in much different circumstances than they were in when they left office or were in the White House. Presidents&#39; <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/president-childhood-pictures/brenden-donnelly" target="_blank">childhood</a> homes are now historic landmarks, in many cases, and a lot of them are extremely modest.&nbsp;

The childhood homes of presidents like Woodrow Wilson, George W. Bush, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, John F. Kennedy, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln are all wildly different from each other. Some are incredibly small while others are a bit more expansive. That said, the places these presidents grew up in can offer an alternate perspective of their lives.

What Presidents' Childhood Homes Actually Looked Like

US President

Sean Kelly

Many American presidents have experienced tragic losses that&nbsp;significantly influenced their personal and professional lives. Exploring&nbsp;how these&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tv-shows-that-dealt-with-real-tragedies/nydahmad" target="_blank">real-life tragedies</a>&nbsp;shaped their lives and careers can humanize some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/top-100-most-influential-men-and-women-in-american-history/junior53?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">most influential people in US history</a>.

As <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-u-s-presidents-from-best-to-worst" target="_blank">presidents from history</a>&nbsp;grieved spouses, children, siblings, and parents,&nbsp;their decisions and actions necessarily reflected those losses, and in turn, shaped history as a whole. From Abraham Lincoln&#39;s reaction to his son&#39;s passing to the pain Teddy Roosevelt felt after losing his wife and mother, tragedy is a&nbsp;fundamental part of these US presidents&#39; legacies.&nbsp;

How Tragedy Shaped The Lives And Careers Of 10 US Presidents

Military Conflicts

A siege&nbsp;was a&nbsp;harsh experience for both sides of a conflict, but especially for the defenders. Trapped inside their fortifications, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/siege-arms/richard-rowe" target="_blank">pounded by artillery</a>, and watching supplies dwindle, they required great courage and determination to keep the attacking side at bay for sustained periods of time. Sometimes&nbsp;the defenders faced an opposing force many times larger, yet still refused to give in.&nbsp;

From the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-but-true-sparta-facts/emily-mast" target="_blank">women of Sparta</a> to the dogged determination of the citizens of Leningrad, this collection of historic battles features the defensive sides of sieges that&nbsp;faced absurd odds but still managed to prevail.&nbsp;

12 Siege Defenders Who Beat The Odds

General

M. Muir

Trending on Ranker

Primary sources throughout the centuries describe some of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/firsthand-accounts-from-history_s-biggest-events/melissa-sartore?page=2" target="_blank">most significant</a>, largest battles in history. Finding accounts of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/important-historical-battles-we-never-heard-of/jim-rowley" target="_blank">ancient and medieval skirmishes</a> from the individuals who fought in them is challenging, with much of the information transmitted through later accounts.

From major entanglements fought during the Persian and Peloponnesian&nbsp;Wars of the fifth century BCE, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/life-fighting-in-the-roman-front-lines/ryan-sargent" target="_blank">through major Roman conflicts</a> like the one at Cannae (216 BCE), and on to&nbsp;history-altering face-offs like the&nbsp;<a href="https://historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/listing/battlefields/hastings/#:~:text=Although%20there%20is%20no%20eyewitness,by%20Baudri%2C%20Abbot%20of%20Bourgueil" target="_blank">Battle of Hastings</a>&nbsp;(1066), there&#39;s some murkiness in the versions that exist. There are also plenty of frays that lack clear documentation and, as a result, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/important-historical-battles-we-never-heard-of/jim-rowley" target="_blank">remain relatively unknown</a>.

Then there are the battles that stand out - the ones you know the names of, you&#39;ve heard stories about, and have perhaps seen pictures from. These are some of history&#39;s deadliest conflicts, which hold a unique significance among the others. Technology, social and political circumstances, and numerous other factors distinguish some of history&#39;s biggest confrontations, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/firsthand-stalingrad-facts/quinn-armstrong" target="_blank">making firsthand accounts</a> of the events even more insightful and poignant.

It&#39;s possible to find a different perspective or rare bit of information in the words of individuals who lived through a battle, which makes what seems like a very old conflict very, very new. Vote up the firsthand accounts from these historical incidents that offer a glimpse into combat like you&#39;ve never seen before.&nbsp;

Firsthand Accounts From 10 Of History's Biggest Battles

There are many&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-but-true-us-president-facts/mallory-weiler" target="_blank">weird but true</a> facts out there about US&nbsp;presidents, past and present. Some are laughable, some are sad, and many are just plain odd. Not to mention that&nbsp;a number of presidential facts we learned in school are exaggerated, or simply not true. (No, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/george-washington-denture-origins/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">George Washington&#39;s teeth</a> were not made of wood, and he probably <a href="https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/cherry-tree-myth/" target="_blank">didn&#39;t chop down that cherry tree</a> either.)

Nonetheless, plenty of funny facts about American&nbsp;commanders-in-chief are worth knowing about. We&#39;ve rounded up some pretty wild info about presidents, from the founding fathers to recent leaders. In a world where presidential politics is often far too serious, these presidential facts&nbsp;are sure to make you giggle.

Surprising Facts About US Presidents That Made Us Giggle

Chrissy Rose

Military

Numerous battles that took place during the Middle Ages are well known. The Battle of Hastings in 1066, for example, has been studied from nearly every angle. In addition to looking at the details of the conflict itself, historians and the general public continue to assess its influence on culture and politics alike.

Many people have the same type of interest in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/historical-mistakes-errors-and-inaccuracies-in-braveheart/machk" target="_blank">battles fought</a>&nbsp;during the Scottish Wars of Independence, those that took place during the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/agincourt-facts/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">Hundred Years&#39; War</a>, and all kinds of crusading efforts throughout the medieval period. Alongside the best-known battles&nbsp;are numerous&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/important-historical-battles-we-never-heard-of/jim-rowley" target="_blank">little-known skirmishes and conflicts</a>. No less full of carnage and heroism, these fights and their overall impact on life and death during the Middle Ages have been overlooked.&nbsp;

We gathered some of the most significant battles from the Middle Ages that few people know much about. Take a look and vote up the frays&nbsp;that definitely deserve more attention.&nbsp;

11 Medieval Battles Most People Have Never Heard Of

Lists about the history and quirks of America's highest office.

The American Presidency

Aside from the uncontested election of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/george-washington-facts/coreybarger" target="_blank">George Washington</a> in 1789,&nbsp;and James Monroe&#39;s unopposed reelection in 1820, every other <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-u-s-presidents-from-best-to-worst" target="_blank">US president</a> has had to overcome at least one opponent. While historical immortality is guaranteed to the winner, history has not always been kind to the runners-up.

The fates of those who came close to winning the presidency differ greatly. Some bounced back and won the following election, others failed again (and again in one case), and a few made their mark outside of politics. This collection looks at what those who finished second in presidential elections did next.&nbsp;

What The Runners-Up Of 13 Historical Presidential Elections Did After Losing

Person

Lists about that most horrifying and destructive human invention in which there are literally no rules.

The Art of War

Some of the most pivotal moments in history have taken place at sea. Naval battles account for the rise and fall of many great dynasties and empires. This list showcases some of the largest and most consequential battles from across the ages&nbsp;that have determined the course of history.&nbsp;

14 Naval Battles That Determined The Course Of History

Ever since the presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the American public has been fixated on a president&#39;s first 100 days. Though some of the men who held the nation&#39;s top office have <a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/04/first-100-days-trump-bogus-215016" target="_blank">disputed the importance</a>&nbsp;of a potentially&nbsp;arbitrary number&nbsp;of days, <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2021/04/16/the-first-100-days-when-did-we-start-caring-about-them-and-why-do-they-matter/" target="_blank">many analysts believe</a> the first 100 days of a presidency can foreshadow&nbsp;the tone and ability of the administration.

Whether the evaluated or the evaluators are correct about the importance of the 100-day evaluation, one thing is certainly true: The approval ratings of a president can change over the course of three months. Beginning in 1945, <a href="https://news.gallup.com/interactives/185273/presidential-job-approval-center.aspx" target="_blank">Gallup</a> began to measure the public&#39;s view of the US president&#39;s job performance and has&nbsp;provided a clear, statistical understanding of expectations and accomplishments since President Harry S. Truman.

The data has illuminated trends over the decades. Presidents usually experience a boost in public approval during their first few months in office. For some presidents, how they handle a major crisis in their first 100 days can make or break their legacies. For others, specific bills or policies can completely change the public&#39;s attitude. But above all else, the polls show the public&#39;s feelings regarding their president&#39;s competence over their first 100 days.

&nbsp;

How Every Modern President's Approval Ratings Compare After Their First 100 Days

Every Modern President's Approval Ratings After Their First 100 Days

Brenden Donnelly

Entertainment

Monica Lewinsky Sets Sights on TV

Michael Grebb

Politics and History lists at Ranker provide the best rankings of politicians and historical figures with interesting historical and political facts voted on by 1000s of people.